Ontario Calls Two Guelph Profs to Bee Protection Group

Jul 11, 2013

Ontario Calls Two Guelph Profs to Bee Protection Group

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

A new provincial group has been created by Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF) to protect honeybees – which has named two University of Guelph professors as members of the committee.

Head of Guelph’s Honey Bee Research Centre – Ernesto Guzman has been named along with Peter Kavan, an environmental science professor who specializes in pollinator conservation. The group is comprised of various industry stakeholders including – beekeepers, farmers, agri-business representatives, scientist and government members.

The group has been tasked with providing recommendations by spring 2014 and outline ways to mitigate bees from exposure to neonicotinoid pesticides. Ontario Premier and Minister of Agriculture and Food Kathleen Wynne, calls the creation of this group a step forward when it comes to protecting the environment and agriculture sector.

Ontario has about 3,000 registered beekeepers and 100,000 bee colonies. The honeybee industry is worth $24 million a year.

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